House of Este

The House of Este was a European princely dynasty that was founded in 951 by Count Oberto I of Milan. The family came to hold the titles Archduke of Austria-Este, Duke of Ferrara and of Modena, Duke of Cumberland, Duke of Brunswick, and Marquis of Este. The elder branch of the family split off to rule the Duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, while the younger branch ruled Ferrara from 1240 to 1597 and Modena and Reggio from 1288 to 1796. In 1803, the original line of the family went extinct, and its last ruler, Francis V of Modena, was deposed in 1859 during Italy's reunification.